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Nicholas Bracewell #3
The Trip to Jerusalem
London is under siege by the Black Plague, closing its theaters and losing its frightened citizens to the countryside. Lord Westfield's Men decide upon the relative safety of the road and a tour of the North. Before they can pack up and depart, one player in the troupe is murdered.
As they travel, the company of players managed by its bookholder, Nicholas Bracewell, learns that their arch-rivals, Banbury's Men, have been pirating their best works. Hoping to shake off Banbury's Men, actor Lawrence Firethorn eventually leads his troupe to York where all is revealed in a thrilling performance.
As they travel, the company of players managed by its bookholder, Nicholas Bracewell, learns that their arch-rivals, Banbury's Men, have been pirating their best works. Hoping to shake off Banbury's Men, actor Lawrence Firethorn eventually leads his troupe to York where all is revealed in a thrilling performance.
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1990
26 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Edward Marston
227 books467 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 20, 2014
The third book in the Nicholas Bracewell series by Edward Marston, The Trip the Jerusalem ups the ante by becoming darker and more twisted in terms of plot and character motivation. So much so, it was hard to put down.
The novel opens with London in the grip of plague, so Lord Westfield’s men decide to quit London and try and earn their keep by playing at inns and country houses on the way to “Jerusalem” or York. Knowing they have to reduce the size of their company in order to make the journey viable, they make some tough decisions regarding the actors, decisions that the murder of one of the players throws into disarray.
As per usual it’s not just murder that stalks Lord Westfield’s Men, but mayhem as well as they discover that their arch rivals, Lord Banbury’s men are not only pirating their plays but managing to perform them successfully prior to their arrival at each destination. But when one of their valuable players is kidnapped, other disasters befall the troupe, and strangers join their pilgrimage, bookholder, Nicholas, requires all his intelligence and skills to outwit Banbury’s men, sort out a muddle of relationships and uncover a plot that threatens the crown.
Fast-paced, easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable (there are some laugh out loud moments) this is a terrific edition to a series that is getting better with each instalment. Part of that is because the characters are becoming more familiar and lovable (or not) but also because the language in which the tales are told and the cracking dialogue is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s plays – particularly the comedies – and there’s a richness and boldness about them that’s at once familiar, strange and lovely to read.
The novel opens with London in the grip of plague, so Lord Westfield’s men decide to quit London and try and earn their keep by playing at inns and country houses on the way to “Jerusalem” or York. Knowing they have to reduce the size of their company in order to make the journey viable, they make some tough decisions regarding the actors, decisions that the murder of one of the players throws into disarray.
As per usual it’s not just murder that stalks Lord Westfield’s Men, but mayhem as well as they discover that their arch rivals, Lord Banbury’s men are not only pirating their plays but managing to perform them successfully prior to their arrival at each destination. But when one of their valuable players is kidnapped, other disasters befall the troupe, and strangers join their pilgrimage, bookholder, Nicholas, requires all his intelligence and skills to outwit Banbury’s men, sort out a muddle of relationships and uncover a plot that threatens the crown.
Fast-paced, easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable (there are some laugh out loud moments) this is a terrific edition to a series that is getting better with each instalment. Part of that is because the characters are becoming more familiar and lovable (or not) but also because the language in which the tales are told and the cracking dialogue is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s plays – particularly the comedies – and there’s a richness and boldness about them that’s at once familiar, strange and lovely to read.
February 11, 2015
When I picked this up in the bookshop I couldn't wait to get home and start reading it. The plague, a touring band of players, murder and mystery and all narrated by their stage manager. As a stage manager myself it was interesting to read about what my role would have been like if I had been alive during that time period (and had been a man).
Initially the style of writing took me aback. I had expected it to be of the period, and am accustomed to reading Shakespeare but some phrases took two readings for me to understand what was being said or going on. However, as the book progressed I became more used to the language and the book flowed well.
The characters were an eclectic mix which I enjoyed reading about, especially the magnificent Lawrence Firethorn! Dubious in character, but an excellent actor. The other players were also interesting, all distinctive enough to keep separate in my head. Although it did annoy me when Martson constantly referred to them by their full name but actually this became useful as were introduced to more people within the novel.
The story itself of Westfield's Players, their travels on the road and their running feud with Barnaby's players was enough to keep me enthralled. In fact, I found the two running stories alongside a bit boring, especially the one about the traitors. The woman who had abandoned her husband for God was a bit more interesting but it's conclusion was a bit bland, and it had no tie into the main story.
Overall an excellent book, a quick read and a very original idea. I hope to discover the first two of these novels and enjoy them just as much as I have this one.
Initially the style of writing took me aback. I had expected it to be of the period, and am accustomed to reading Shakespeare but some phrases took two readings for me to understand what was being said or going on. However, as the book progressed I became more used to the language and the book flowed well.
The characters were an eclectic mix which I enjoyed reading about, especially the magnificent Lawrence Firethorn! Dubious in character, but an excellent actor. The other players were also interesting, all distinctive enough to keep separate in my head. Although it did annoy me when Martson constantly referred to them by their full name but actually this became useful as were introduced to more people within the novel.
The story itself of Westfield's Players, their travels on the road and their running feud with Barnaby's players was enough to keep me enthralled. In fact, I found the two running stories alongside a bit boring, especially the one about the traitors. The woman who had abandoned her husband for God was a bit more interesting but it's conclusion was a bit bland, and it had no tie into the main story.
Overall an excellent book, a quick read and a very original idea. I hope to discover the first two of these novels and enjoy them just as much as I have this one.
November 5, 2014
The third book in Edward Marston's wonderful Nicholas Bracewell series is something of a puzzle. While the other books are essentially conventional murder mysteries, this one is more of a Elizabethan comedy of errors and mishaps befalling the celebrated troupe of actors, Lord Westfield's Men, for which Nicholas Bracewell acts as book holder and stage manager.
A series of murders occurs, but this time Nicholas is far too busy extricating his actors from one calamity after another to bother with solving crime. The final denouement is more incidental than planned, it seems, as Nicholas literally stumbles upon the murderer in the dark - and the hired assassin who finishes off the murderer!
Set against the political and religious unrests of the late 1500's during Queen Elizabeth I.'s reign, the murders are connected to Lord Walsingham's desire to rid the British Isles of Catholicism once and for all. A protestant monarch, so Walsingham argues, cannot allow religious freedom, if that very freedom of her subjects means they may well opt to have a different head of state.
Prompted by an outbreak of the plague, London's authorities have no choice but to close down theatres in the city - in Europe of the late 16th century the origin of the plague was still unknown and so large gatherings of people were regarded as a source for the contagious disease to take hold.
Robbed of their source of income, Lord Westfield's Men have no option but to leave London for the stages of the provinces. They set off confident, believing they'll wow the crowds of yokels along their way to York, where they are to stay and perform for the owner of an inn, Sir Clarence Marmion. The name of his inn is "The Trip to Jerusalem" and in many ways the troupe of actors are setting off on their very own pilgrimage, although they do not know that yet. Their patron, Lord Westfield, has secured them lodgings and a welcome at many different towns and cities, and the actors look forward to a lucrative few weeks of work. Their loyalties to the stage and to each other are tested to the limits along the way.
When they get to their first destination, they discover to their horror that their rivals, the hated Lord Banbury's Men theatrical group, have not only been there first - Banbury's Men have stolen the script written by Westfield's talented playwright Edmund Hoode and performed a Westfield play to great acclaim. Naturally, the yokels have had their fill of theatre for a while and they refuse to allow Westfield's Men to set up their stage and play.
This is just the first in a long list of towns - Westfield's Men find their efforts thwarted by their rivals wherever they go. It seems, a traitor among their very own troupe has given away the scripts Westfield's Men have guarded for so long. Copyright did not exist in the late 1500's, so a writer could not guard their work. Worse is to come, for one of the Westfield apprentices is kidnapped and then the basket with all their stage costumes goes missing, too. Is this the end of Lord Westfield's Men? How are they ever to recover such a substantial loss?
The novel is a wonderful multi-stranded tale of actors in peril, of murderers going free and of religious fanatics torturing the hell out of each other only to all fall into deadly traps set by the cunning spider Lord Walsingham.
At the end, faltering marriages are repaired and couples fornicate to their hearts' content, while Nicholas finds his finer feelings of friendship and trust betrayed at every turn and witnesses a ruthless killer go free. Much like your average Elizabethan tragedy then...
The novel essentially deals with different types of passion, focussing mostly on the acting bug that won't let go of its "victim", no matter what the circumstances. As always, the banter and catty dialogue between the acting fraternity is highly entertaining. A novel as bawdy, full-blooded and raucous as Shakespeare's Men must have been in their day, when they performed at London's Rose and Curtain theatres!
A series of murders occurs, but this time Nicholas is far too busy extricating his actors from one calamity after another to bother with solving crime. The final denouement is more incidental than planned, it seems, as Nicholas literally stumbles upon the murderer in the dark - and the hired assassin who finishes off the murderer!
Set against the political and religious unrests of the late 1500's during Queen Elizabeth I.'s reign, the murders are connected to Lord Walsingham's desire to rid the British Isles of Catholicism once and for all. A protestant monarch, so Walsingham argues, cannot allow religious freedom, if that very freedom of her subjects means they may well opt to have a different head of state.
Prompted by an outbreak of the plague, London's authorities have no choice but to close down theatres in the city - in Europe of the late 16th century the origin of the plague was still unknown and so large gatherings of people were regarded as a source for the contagious disease to take hold.
Robbed of their source of income, Lord Westfield's Men have no option but to leave London for the stages of the provinces. They set off confident, believing they'll wow the crowds of yokels along their way to York, where they are to stay and perform for the owner of an inn, Sir Clarence Marmion. The name of his inn is "The Trip to Jerusalem" and in many ways the troupe of actors are setting off on their very own pilgrimage, although they do not know that yet. Their patron, Lord Westfield, has secured them lodgings and a welcome at many different towns and cities, and the actors look forward to a lucrative few weeks of work. Their loyalties to the stage and to each other are tested to the limits along the way.
When they get to their first destination, they discover to their horror that their rivals, the hated Lord Banbury's Men theatrical group, have not only been there first - Banbury's Men have stolen the script written by Westfield's talented playwright Edmund Hoode and performed a Westfield play to great acclaim. Naturally, the yokels have had their fill of theatre for a while and they refuse to allow Westfield's Men to set up their stage and play.
This is just the first in a long list of towns - Westfield's Men find their efforts thwarted by their rivals wherever they go. It seems, a traitor among their very own troupe has given away the scripts Westfield's Men have guarded for so long. Copyright did not exist in the late 1500's, so a writer could not guard their work. Worse is to come, for one of the Westfield apprentices is kidnapped and then the basket with all their stage costumes goes missing, too. Is this the end of Lord Westfield's Men? How are they ever to recover such a substantial loss?
The novel is a wonderful multi-stranded tale of actors in peril, of murderers going free and of religious fanatics torturing the hell out of each other only to all fall into deadly traps set by the cunning spider Lord Walsingham.
At the end, faltering marriages are repaired and couples fornicate to their hearts' content, while Nicholas finds his finer feelings of friendship and trust betrayed at every turn and witnesses a ruthless killer go free. Much like your average Elizabethan tragedy then...
The novel essentially deals with different types of passion, focussing mostly on the acting bug that won't let go of its "victim", no matter what the circumstances. As always, the banter and catty dialogue between the acting fraternity is highly entertaining. A novel as bawdy, full-blooded and raucous as Shakespeare's Men must have been in their day, when they performed at London's Rose and Curtain theatres!
July 21, 2018
Nicholas Bracewell triumphs again.
Westfield's Men leave London to avoid contracting the Plague. As they travel north towards the city of York, the troupe meet with several thefts, kidnap and murder. Edmund Hoode's plays are stolen, they know not how, and are subsequently performed by a rival acting troupe. Then Westfield's Men have one of their apprentices kidnapped and Nicholas Bracewell is charged with finding the boy. Then their costumes are stolen as a final attempt to discredit Westfield's Men.
After the thefts, kidnap and murder fail to destroy Westfield's Men, the identity of the mystery person behind these crimes is revealed and the famous acting troupe returns to top form and continue touring.
Edward Marston, for me, is a really good author, who puts twists and turns in his plots to keep the reader interested.
Westfield's Men leave London to avoid contracting the Plague. As they travel north towards the city of York, the troupe meet with several thefts, kidnap and murder. Edmund Hoode's plays are stolen, they know not how, and are subsequently performed by a rival acting troupe. Then Westfield's Men have one of their apprentices kidnapped and Nicholas Bracewell is charged with finding the boy. Then their costumes are stolen as a final attempt to discredit Westfield's Men.
After the thefts, kidnap and murder fail to destroy Westfield's Men, the identity of the mystery person behind these crimes is revealed and the famous acting troupe returns to top form and continue touring.
Edward Marston, for me, is a really good author, who puts twists and turns in his plots to keep the reader interested.
November 4, 2024
Having read one of Marston's earlier books, I was pleasantly surprised when I found this book on my bookshelf.
Although this is part of a series, I enjoyed it as a standalone book. Set in Elizabethan London, the theatre industry is booming. Suddenly the Plague starts spreading across the city and Lord Westfield's Men's Theatre Company must travel elsewhere to perform their shows.
On the way they encounter a number of obstacles including a rival theatre group copying their plays, the kidnapping of one of their young actors and much more!
Marston does a fantastic job of creating the Elizabethan setting and you can't help but find yourself transported to this time. The atmospheric writing style and the dialogue of the characters specific to that time help to create the 16th century setting perfectly.
I really enjoyed this book and the mix of different characters. Edward Marston is one of my favourite authors that I've discovered this year and I look forward to reading more of his book series.
Although this is part of a series, I enjoyed it as a standalone book. Set in Elizabethan London, the theatre industry is booming. Suddenly the Plague starts spreading across the city and Lord Westfield's Men's Theatre Company must travel elsewhere to perform their shows.
On the way they encounter a number of obstacles including a rival theatre group copying their plays, the kidnapping of one of their young actors and much more!
Marston does a fantastic job of creating the Elizabethan setting and you can't help but find yourself transported to this time. The atmospheric writing style and the dialogue of the characters specific to that time help to create the 16th century setting perfectly.
I really enjoyed this book and the mix of different characters. Edward Marston is one of my favourite authors that I've discovered this year and I look forward to reading more of his book series.
April 8, 2025
I’ve read other books by Edward Marston and enjoyed them, sadly this I did not.
This book had murder, kidnap, betrayal but it just didn’t draw me in. The characters left a lot to be desired , overall it wasn’t entertaining.
This book had murder, kidnap, betrayal but it just didn’t draw me in. The characters left a lot to be desired , overall it wasn’t entertaining.
April 15, 2018
London is suffering through another Plague, and the theatrical company known as Lord Westfield’s Men decide to tour the country to avoid it. Even before they leave, one of the company is murdered and then when they get out of town, they find that their rivals, Banbury’s Men, have somehow stolen their closely-guarded plays and are stealing their audiences to perform them. And *then* one of the young apprentices, who plays all the female roles to perfection, is kidnapped. Can bookholder Nicholas Bracewell keep the company together, solve these problems and not get killed in the process?....This is I think the third volume in this Elizabethan series; I’ve read some of the novellas and at least one (later) novel, picking them up as I come across them. I like Mr. Marston’s writing style and I like his main character Bracewell quite a bit, but for some reason this particular outing didn’t impress me. I think possibly there was just too much plot for the slim (212-page) volume to handle; it all felt rushed and overblown somehow. I’ll keep reading the series as I come across it, but this particular story just didn’t quite work for me.
May 29, 2020
Considering the current pandemic, a mystery set in England during the plague seemed like a good choice to read. However, there was very little mystery to the book. The book held my interest due to the glimpses of life, particularly of those in the theater, in that era. The portion of the story relating to the woman making a pilgrimage did not tie into the rest of the story and seemed to be added for comic relief and/or to show a woman from a more stable lifestyle.
October 16, 2018
When Westfield's Men must depart London due to plague, bad things happen. The resourceful--and charming--Nicholas Bracewell, bookholder for the compnay, steps in to solve the mystery and save the day.
I have the feeling these books keep to this pattern, but that's okay with me. Great escape reading, and I know what to expect.
February 26, 2018
This is a great series, really entertaining, historically accurate. I enjoy the characters and the stories. I was excited to see this one was out of London and to my old home town of Nottingham. Its a great read and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
October 18, 2021
"Enemies surrounded them. Though theatre flourished in London as never before, bestowing vivid entertainment upon the nation's capital and earning daily ovations from large audience's, its practitioners were under constant threat. Acting was a perilous enterprise."
Like the past two books, the story is fun and dramatic, but in its drama it also lacks? I'm not sure if it was the pomp of the male characters, how badly the female characters are presented or just the sheer amount of characters and mini plots squished into such a short narrative? But then, I wouldn't want to read this book if it was bigger! I love the historical settings, I love the idea of a theatre company in Elizabethan London and learning little bits here and there of the time period, but I do have a love hate relationship with the characters. One example being Gill's character, I appreciate having a gay character in any book but not when he's written as some lustrous creep feasting on overly innocent boys. Being the third book, it also felt repetitive, there doesn't seem to be any character growth and is getting a bit wearisome to read Firethorn's fiery outbursts or Nick's extreme heroism multiple times within one book let alone three (and more). What I did enjoy in this book is the brief mentions of the plague hitting London forcing theatres to close and how Westfield's men decide to tour instead, while also exploring Walsingham's network of spies unfolding Catholic plots against the Queen amidst the battle of theatre companies. I do like how there's a mixture of fiction and accuracy to the story but other than that I won't continue with the series.
Like the past two books, the story is fun and dramatic, but in its drama it also lacks? I'm not sure if it was the pomp of the male characters, how badly the female characters are presented or just the sheer amount of characters and mini plots squished into such a short narrative? But then, I wouldn't want to read this book if it was bigger! I love the historical settings, I love the idea of a theatre company in Elizabethan London and learning little bits here and there of the time period, but I do have a love hate relationship with the characters. One example being Gill's character, I appreciate having a gay character in any book but not when he's written as some lustrous creep feasting on overly innocent boys. Being the third book, it also felt repetitive, there doesn't seem to be any character growth and is getting a bit wearisome to read Firethorn's fiery outbursts or Nick's extreme heroism multiple times within one book let alone three (and more). What I did enjoy in this book is the brief mentions of the plague hitting London forcing theatres to close and how Westfield's men decide to tour instead, while also exploring Walsingham's network of spies unfolding Catholic plots against the Queen amidst the battle of theatre companies. I do like how there's a mixture of fiction and accuracy to the story but other than that I won't continue with the series.
July 3, 2024
I was about halfway through the book before I got into this and settled down into the story. As this is part of a series, though it can be read as a stand alone, I think it would help to read the ones before to get a sense of the characters. It took me a while to remember who was who!
A group of players leave London due to plague to preform elsewhere but are thwarted at every turn by a rival group. A side storyline is also involved which I'm guessing links the book to the rest of the series.
For me, this was just okay, worth a read but I will not be seeking out the other books any time soon. What I did enjoy in this book is the brief mentions of the plague hitting London forcing theatres to close and how Westfield's men decide to tour instead, while also exploring Walsingham's network of spies unfolding Catholic plots against the Queen amidst the battle of theatre companies.
I do like how there's a mixture of fiction and accuracy to the story but other than that I won't continue with the series.
I need to listen to my instincts and know when to put a book down unfinished as I almost did with this after the first twenty or so pages.
A group of players leave London due to plague to preform elsewhere but are thwarted at every turn by a rival group. A side storyline is also involved which I'm guessing links the book to the rest of the series.
For me, this was just okay, worth a read but I will not be seeking out the other books any time soon. What I did enjoy in this book is the brief mentions of the plague hitting London forcing theatres to close and how Westfield's men decide to tour instead, while also exploring Walsingham's network of spies unfolding Catholic plots against the Queen amidst the battle of theatre companies.
I do like how there's a mixture of fiction and accuracy to the story but other than that I won't continue with the series.
I need to listen to my instincts and know when to put a book down unfinished as I almost did with this after the first twenty or so pages.
November 11, 2025
This book was one I received through a book box before I had even started reading this author's other mysteries. And of course, I got on really well with his writing style, especially in regards to historical fiction, found his main character extremely competent and sensible (as well as his love interest) and felt a little dubious about some of his choices (such as the ones regarding the travellers and their input in the plot). The mystery was also a little convoluted, with many, many side characters getting their own POVs and the plot itself spreading all over England but somehow all relating back to each other in the end. But I did like the ending and the actor troupe was a fun group to follow.
February 24, 2021
I was about halfway through the book before I got into this and settled down into the story. As this is part of a series, though it can be read as a stand alone, I think it would help to read the ones before to get a sense of the characters. It took me a while to remember who was who!
A group of players leave London due to plague to preform elsewhere but are thwarted at every turn by a rival group. A side storyline is also involved which I'm guessing links the book to the rest of the series.
For me, this was just okay, worth a read but won't be seeking out the other books.
A group of players leave London due to plague to preform elsewhere but are thwarted at every turn by a rival group. A side storyline is also involved which I'm guessing links the book to the rest of the series.
For me, this was just okay, worth a read but won't be seeking out the other books.
February 5, 2019
First published in 1990, 'The Trip to Jerusalem' is the 3rd in the Nicholas Bracewell series of mysteries set against the background of a theatrical company in Elizabethan London. In this, the company is forced to go on tour around the provinces when plague causes the closure of all London theatres. This, together with some connected plots, make for a fast-paced and interesting story with all of the usual goings on with eccentric characters. Good fun.
March 20, 2022
I always find Edward Marston's writing to be wonderfully fluid and accessible and his plots seem to skip along at an appealing pace. The Trip to Jerusalem is no different and I found the plot interesting and the narrative rich in character. The period was well reproduced as well and in particular, the dialogue was just as you imagined it would have been. Overall, another fun mystery from a terrific author.
June 23, 2018
Not finishing this one. Seems to be an excuse to write about everyone thinking with their hormones. It would have been in better keeping for the time to have more intrigue, since there was spying going on. Or more about how the plague affected the effort for the players in the various places they travelled.
December 3, 2018
As the plague gets its grip on London, Lord Westfield's Men are forced to take to the road when the theatres are closed. But a rival company is one step ahead at all times and one mishap after another dogs their tour. Add in a Catholic plot, a few spies and a dead body or two and you get an entertaining romp through the Elizabethan countryside.
May 21, 2021
I enjoyed this book very much. Very different from others I have read. I shall look out for other titles by this author. Two rival theatre groups set out from plague ridden London for the countryside in search of venues to take their plays to. This is a story of their journey and the troubles that beset them.
December 13, 2024
Another enjoyable romp, with murder and spies and theatrical jealousy. Once again a number of seemingly unrelated episodes are brought together in a fine conclusion. More fighting and a kidnapping and Walsinghams spies, as well as Banburys men stealing their plays, take Westfields men to York and the new Jerusalem
July 14, 2019
A Elizabethan theatre troop goes on tour to Yorkshire and encounters all sorts of problems on the way.
Enter 2-3 spies, problems with women and religious politics...I did not enjoy this as much as the others, mainly because the plot did not really hold together
Enter 2-3 spies, problems with women and religious politics...I did not enjoy this as much as the others, mainly because the plot did not really hold together
October 24, 2021
Ok this is the 3rd book in the Nicolas Bracewell series and was not to bad. Another instalment of Nicolas saving the Westfield group while having a few stories in the background! I do like this series it’s fun read.
December 6, 2021
Looked promising but really lost interest in the story as the story progressed.
The Eleanor and Humphrey Budden part was interesting but how it resolved was a bit of a stretch.
Overall disappointing because there was a lot of potentially good plots and not one of them delivered.
The Eleanor and Humphrey Budden part was interesting but how it resolved was a bit of a stretch.
Overall disappointing because there was a lot of potentially good plots and not one of them delivered.
January 23, 2024
Another gripping and entertaining instalment in the Bracewell series. There are an interesting range of characters in a unique setting. The story is filled with twists and turns that leave the reader wanting to read on.
August 31, 2018
An intriguing, convincing historical mystery with a great cast of characters. Entertaining, enjoyable and highly recommended. 4 / 5
November 8, 2018
Mine is a Corgi PB edition published 1990
January 26, 2019
a very enjoyable read this book is well worth the read along with all the others
February 24, 2019
A wonderful, gripping tale that will keep readers guessing about the final end till the last page.
July 20, 2021
Marston gets 5 stars from me and hopefully we can soon see more instalments.
October 14, 2021
Rollicking tale from Elizabethan times which passed away a couple of evenings but I think I prefer the railway detective series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews